When Volvo offered Sarah Gibson the chance to borrow its new XC60 for a week to get a female perspective, she jumped at the opportunity to take it on the road.

Being married to a motoring hack isn’t always easy. For a start, you can’t see the floor of our study for car magazines and PR briefs about the latest launches.

Meanwhile, my husband, Tim, is pretty much incapable of maintaining a conversation when we’re out in public. All it takes is for some obscure vehicle to pass and I know I’ve lost his attention for a good half hour.

Then there’s the churn of cars on our driveway, as Tim takes delivery of an endless stream of test vehicles for various newspapers and magazines. And while it’s nice to be driven around in brand-new automobiles, I can’t help but feel slightly peeved that I don’t get a go behind the wheel.

So when Volvo offered me a recently facelifted XC60 D5 AWD for a week, in an effort to gauge the reaction of a female driver, I naturally leapt at the chance. Here’s what I made of our time together.

What was your first impression of the XC60?

It is a very handsome vehicle: sleek and stylish, with purposeful headlights and a chrome grille that lends a pleasingly premium feel.

It’s well-proportioned, too: the bonnet sits nice and high, giving it a commanding countenance. But the car is not so huge that you can’t locate its extremities, meaning it is by no means intimidating when you first settle in the cabin.

On the subject of which, the interior looked so inviting that I couldn’t resist clambering straight in and heading out for my first drive. Tim usually spends up to an hour driving around the local lanes when a test car is delivered, calling it “professional research”. So, I reasoned as I left him on the drive at home, if that’s what the experts do, who am I to argue?

How does the car feel behind the wheel?

It is sure-footed and refined. This was a relief, because the plan was to take it away on a week’s holiday to Dorset, with me as the designated driver. That equated to a good two hours behind the wheel the next day, but I would have been happy to drive the XC60 much further. It’s nimble, dead easy to manoeuvre and very smooth on a range of road surfaces.

The best way to describe the experience of driving the XC60 is to say that it inspires confidence. Loaded up with our son, Monty, and my mother-in-law (Tim followed behind with his father, still struggling to process our reversal of roles), the car felt safe, assured and well balanced.

I didn’t feel any need to press on at speed, but was pleased to know that the D5 turbo-diesel engine (which generates 220hp) had plenty in reserve if I needed a boost. Whether on a motorway or a quiet country road, that effortless power brings welcome peace of mind.

How did the XC60 fare as the week wore on?

It proved to be the perfect companion for our family holiday. Four adults and a booster-seat-mounted toddler fitted in with ease. The back seats are generously proportioned and the SUV body shape ensures there is loads of legroom, even for six-footers like Tim. Indeed, unaccustomed as he is to travelling in the rear of a car, he admitted that the experience was actually rather pleasurable, thanks to the XC60’s ergonomic seats and spacious layout.

It’s a similar story when it comes to load space. The boot, fitted with a very handy electronic opening mechanism, easily accommodated everything we threw at it, including our golden retriever and no small amount of luggage.

Overall, the XC60 proved a trusty steed for trips to the beach, supermarket runs and explorations of the Dorset countryside. Never once did we feel wanting for space, which is pretty much the biggest compliment I can pay to a family car.

What was the car’s best feature?

The thing I really liked about the XC60, and what would make me seriously consider owning one, is this: although it’s an all-wheel drive SUV, which is perfect for our rural lifestyle, it doesn’t look flashy or attention-seeking. I felt very unselfconscious driving it, but thoroughly appreciated the elevated ride height that gives you a fantastic view of the road.

Another thing I loved was the seats. They are designed in consultation with orthopaedic surgeons, and you can tell. It feels as if every bone of your body is supported.

Finally, and perhaps inevitably as the mother of a young child, I was greatly reassured by the XC60’s safety credentials. These contribute to a feeling of strength and stability. What’s more, the knowledge that the car is monitoring the road around you and will react if something is in the way makes family driving as close to worry-free as you’re likely to get.

Did anything else stand out about the car?

No single feature stood out because the whole package is so impressive. But given its power and all-wheel drive capability, I was very impressed by the XC60’s low fuel consumption, especially in very mixed conditions. If you want a car that is great for long journeys and looks smart but not ostentatious in the office car park, as well as doubling as a useful family vehicle at weekends, I don’t think you could go far wrong with an XC60.

Would you consider owning one?

Yes, of course. Are you offering?

A female perspective

Volvo has form when it comes to designing cars that appeal to female drivers. The Your Concept Car programme in 2004 was set up to incorporate women’s views in the development of new cars, with an all-female team of designers. Their insights contributed to the development of the C30.

The company is renowned as a champion of women’s employment. It has a commitment to establishing a working environment in which both men and women thrive, thereby helping to overcome some of the prejudices that prevail in the male-dominated automotive industry.

For further information about the most efficient car for your business' needs call the Volvo Car Business Centre on 0345 600 4027 or visit volvocars.com/uk